Hit a truly nasty day on this peak with 65 mph gusts while we were on the summit. Darn near blew us off and the wind chill factor was well below zero. Snow almost all the way and we followed the trail when we could find it. Saw no one else on this friday before memorial day but it was a great day in the mountains nonetheless and both Dennis and I enjoyed the experience. We saw no one else all day as every one else would've waited until Saturday when the weather was sunny and calm.

We went up Granite Chief on Saturday and what a contrast to our day on Mt. Rose. Not even a breeze on Granite Chief. Amazing how the weather can change.

Started at 9 am and found the 4 ft. of new snow difficult - even with snow shoes. Weather was good initially but deteriorated as we approached the summit. Whiteout conditions and 40+ MPH winds made for a short stay. Post-holed with the snowshoes through the wilderness meadow, seemed like an eternity to get back to the jeep trail. Made it back to the parking lot a 7 p.m. Tough day!

Excellent snowshoe trip in the middle of winter. Very cold and windy at the top. I encountered some a snowmobiler and a couple of skiers before entering the wilderness but otherwise had complete solitude.

Started out on jeep track ~10:45 am. Postholing for most of the way after leaving the jeep track and going into the wilderness area. Got caught in snow shower and high wind at summit ~3pm. Totally burnt out by the time we summited, didn't get back to jeep track till sundown at ~5:45pm. back to parking lot at ~7pm.

Snowshoe would have been great especially for the ~400 ft drop/gain after jeep track and gully leading up Mt Rose due to thick, rather powdery snow . If I were a smarter person. I would have 1) start earlier than 10:45 am, its a good 10 miles RT ! 2) rent snowshoes 3) use gaiters.

A clear day. Moderate to gusty winds at the summit. 15 degrees at he summit not counting the wind chill. The storm the night before dumped a good foot or more of snow at 8000 and above, that made it fairly difficult to put the route in.